2 Samuel 21:1-11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:9

And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites ,.... The two sons of Rizpah and the five sons of Merab, two sons of Saul and five grandsons: and they hanged them in the hill before the Lord ; in the hill at Gibeah, that they might be seen by all that passed by, and serve to deter from such evils, which brought on them that punishment; gibbetings or crucifixions were commonly made on hills and mountains F12 Vid. Lipsium de Cruce, l. 3. c. 13. : the phrase, "before the Lord",... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:10

And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth ,.... Both as a token of mourning for her sons, and as fittest to defend from the weather, the heat by day of cold by night: and spread it for her upon the rock ; the hill on which her sons were hanged; this she spread as a canopy or tent to sit under, and be covered with it; not to cover the bodies with it, but herself, and where she sat to mourn the loss of her sons, and to watch their bodies, that they might not be devoured by birds and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:11

And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done. Whether this was told out of good will or ill will is not certain; however, it was not disagreeable to David, but served to move pity and compassion in him to the woman, and to stir him up to give an honourable interment to Saul and his sons; and which would show that this fact was not done out of personal pique and revenge to his family, but in obedience to the will of God, and the honour of his name. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 21:1

Then there was a famine - Of this famine we know nothing; it is not mentioned in any part of the history of David. Because he slew the Gibeonites - No such fact is mentioned in the life and transactions of Saul; nor is there any reference to it in any other part of Scripture. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 21:2

The remnant of the Amorites - The Gibeonites were Hivites, not Amorites, as appears from Joshua 11:19 ; : but Amorites is a name often given to the Canaanites in general, Genesis 15:16 ; Amos 2:9 , and elsewhere. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 21:3

Wherewith shall I make the atonement - It is very strange that a choice of this kind should be left to such a people. Why not ask this of God himself? read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 21:6

Seven men of his sons - Meaning sons, grandsons, or other near branches of his family. It is supposed that the persons chosen were principal in assisting Saul to exterminate the Gibeonites. But where is the proof of this? read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 21:8

Five sons of Michal - whom she brought up - Michal, Saul's daughter, was never married to Adriel, but to David, and afterwards to Phaltiel; though it is here said she bore ילדה yaledah , not brought up, as we falsely translate it: but we learn from 1 Samuel 18:19 , that Merab, one of Saul's daughters, was married to Adriel. Two of Dr. Kennicott's MSS. have Merab, not Michal; the Syriac and Arabic have Nadab; the Chaldee has properly Merab; but it renders the passage... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 21:9

In the beginning of barley harvest - This happened in Judea about the vernal equinox, or the 21st of March. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 21:10

Rizpah - took sackcloth - Who can read the account of Rizpah's maternal affection for her sons that were now hanged, without feeling his mind deeply impressed with sorrows? Did God require this sacrifice of Saul's sons, probably all innocent of the alleged crime of their father? Was there no other method of averting the Divine displeasure? Was the requisition of the Gibeonites to have Saul's sons sacrificed to God, to be considered as an oracle of God? Certainly not; God will not have... read more

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